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Research Translation
“Changing times demand a new social contract between society and the institutions of higher education.”
— James J. Duderstadt
What is RT?
NSF defines research translation (RT) as an effort to “advancing discoveries resulting from academic research into tangible solutions that benefit the public.“
The overarching goal for the ART program is to advance the U.S. scientific and economic leadership by building capacity for more robust research translation activities in Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) across the nation.
Grounding Translation
We operate under three assumptions of research translation reality at IHEs. These assumptions guide both our recommendations and our investigation of the phenomenon.
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From the Morrill Acts that created land-grant universities to the Bayh-Dole Act empowering IHEs to own their inventions, U.S. higher education runs on public trust—the belief that IHEs advance society through discovery and innovation.
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Advancing research translation depends on the capacity to act and incentive to make decisions within the unique IHE structure. That structure provides both opportunities and challenges for translation.
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Academia can provide both internal (organizational norms) and external (disciplinary norms) pressures that influence whether research translation remains symbolic in policies or realized into action.
The PTIE Plan
PTIE puts forward recommendations designed to elevate research translation, innovation, and entrepreneurship within faculty reward systems. Through a collaborative, cross-institutional approach, we envision changes that unite IHEs nationwide around a shared language in promotion and tenure process. Innovation is already a thriving part of faculty teaching, research, and service, yet it often goes underrecognized. Treating research translation on par with fundamental research in promotion and tenure processes pushes these efforts to the forefront of higher education’s fulfillment of its social contract.
Our Philosophy
Who we serve:
Research translation is not just about serving the business sector—it’s about helping faculty and staff to make their fullest altruistic impact, equipping students for the future workforce, and engaging end users in knowledge production.
How we do it:
Changing rules alone doesn’t change culture. The NSF ART grant helps institutions build infrastructure, expand capacity, and develop the skills needed for research translation. But sustainable transformation requires a cultural tipping point—where enough people are ready to adopt new innovations into the systems. Organizational change happens by aligning understanding across groups, through multiple levels, and over time.
